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When heat is accompanied by exterior syndrome, it is called Exterior Heat. When heat occurs without exterior syndrome, it is called Interior Heat. Therefore, bitter substances are used to treat the Five Zang Organs (Zang organs), which belong to Yin and reside internally; pungent substances are used to treat the Six Fu Organs (Fu organs), which belong to Yang and reside externally. Thus, it is said that internal conditions are treated with purgation, while external conditions are treated with diaphoresis.

Dietary irregularities and overexertion cause internal injury to Yuan Qi (Primordial Qi). When Yuan Qi is damaged, True Yang sinks downward, generating internal deficiency heat. Therefore, Li Dongyuan proposed the theory of Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), using sweet-warm herbs such as Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) to greatly tonify Qi and lift the sinking Qi. This is the method of using Qi-tonifying herbs to address Qi insufficiency. Excessive mental labor and sexual indulgence cause internal injury to True Yin. Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex) and Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) is used to nourish Yin, causing the fire to subside naturally. This is the method of using Blood-nourishing herbs to address Blood insufficiency. Tonifying Qi and Nourishing Yin both pertain to Internal Injury syndromes. One lifts due to the sinking of Yang Qi, while the other nourishes and descends due to the rising of Yin Fire. One ascends and one descends; they are completely different.

General fever, where heat resides in the layer of Yang circulation, is governed by the Lung. Therefore, Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction) is used to clear fire from Qi-level heat. Waning fever at dusk (Ri Bu), where heat resides in the layer of Yin circulation, is treated with Gu Pi San (Bone Skin Powder). For a wiry pulse, the pathogen is lifted to allow Spring Qi to ascend.

There are five methods for treating heat: 1. Harmonizing (He), 2. Taking/Attacking (Qu), 3. Following (Cong), 4. Breaking/Restraining (Zhe), 5. Depriving/Purging (Duo). If the disease is mild heat, cool herbs should be used to harmonize it. If harmonization fails, proceed to "Taking," because the heat intensity is slightly greater, so cold herbs should be used to attack it. If attacking fails, proceed to "Following," because the heat intensity is severe, so warm herbs should be used to follow the pathogenic trend. This means the herb's nature is warm, and its flavor adapts to the treatment needs. It may involve using cold herbs in hot conditions (treating heat with cold, administered hot), or combining cold herbs with warm ones, or resolving via sweating. If this fails, proceed to "Breaking," because the pathological momentum is extreme, requiring counter-restriction. If restriction fails, proceed to "Depriving" via purgation. If purgation fails, proceed to "Belonging" (Shu), seeking the root affiliation to weaken the disease. Since heat has sunk deeply into the marrow and cannot exit, beyond the reach of acupuncture and herbs, one seeks its root affiliation to diminish it. The method of seeking affiliation follows the principle of "like responds to like, same qi attracts same qi." If still ineffective, widely seek other methods for treatment. As Sun Tzu used in warfare: in valleys, block the springs; at water-land junctions, guard the crossings; in open plains, clear the fields for a thousand li. Blocking springs corresponds to needling Shu points; guarding crossings corresponds to intercepting the disease before its onset; clearing fields for a thousand li corresponds to cases of emaciation and weakness, where one should broadly administer major tonic herbs to nourish Righteous Qi.